Lock prop-joint for carriage-tops



(No Model.)

L. G. MAYER.

LOCK PROP JOINT FOR CARRIAGE TOPSL No. 522,476. Patented July 3, 1894;

WI /AG a V/Ai m 9 A 'UNITEI STATES PATENT ()FFICE.

LOUIS- G. MAYER, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO,ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO HOWARD K.JAMES, OF OOVINGTON, KENTUCKY.

LOCK PROP-JOINT FOR CARRIAGE-TOPS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 522,476, dated July 3,1 894. I Application filed February 9,1894. 7 Serial No. 499,674- (Nomodel.)

My invention relates to a lock prop joint for buggy tops.

One of the objects of the invention is to so construct the prop jointsof the buggy top that they may be arranged on the inside of the curtainsso as to be raised and lowered readily.

Another object of the invention is to lock the prop joints in positionwhen raised so that they cannot be thrown back accidentally.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for having theprojecting joint near the top pass outside ofthe top and between it andthe curtain, avoiding all danger v of the joint wearing the top.

It is I impossible to arrange the ordinary prop joints of carriage topsso that they may be placed inside of the curtains because when the topis folded back the joints come in contact with the top and either puncha hole or soon wear the lining out. My invention obviates thisdifficulty besides making a superior prop joint, the various features ofwhich are fully set forth in the description of the accompanyingdrawings making a part of this specification, in which Figure 1 is aside elevation of my improvement applied to a buggy top with thecurtains removed. Fig. 2 .is a side elevation showing the same folded.Fig. 3 is a top plan view of one form of lock for the lower joint. Fig.4 is aseetion on line an, ac, Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a modification ,of Fig.3. Fig. 6 is a section on line y,y, Fig. 5.

A represents the body of the buggy; B, the seat; 0,.the seat rail; D,the central and main bow; E, an inclined bow. The two are hinged to therail 0 by the usual form-of joints (1.

My prop joint consists of three sections, F, G, H, which are arranged asfollows: Section F is connected to the seat railCby the joint b. 0represents a knuckle joint hinging section F to section G. (1 representsan ordinary pivot on which section G swivels. e represents a knucklejoint hinging section G to section H; section H is secured to thevalance bow.

' As shown in Figs. 3 and 4 the look for the joint consists of the catchgand the latch lever, h, which is secured to section F by pivot 2. Whenthe latch lever 71. is engaged in the catch as shown in fulllines Fig.8, and in section Fig. 4, the joint is effectually locked so that itcannot be broken or turned.

When it is desired to let the carriage top down the latch lever h isthrown round into the position shown in dotted lines, Fig. 3. And thenthe prop joints can'be readily folded back in the position shown in Fig.2.

Any form of lock applied to the joint may be'employed. I have shown oneother form as a modification which consists in the slide K shown inFigs. 4 and 5; said slide is provided with the slot 111., and the slot nat the end of said slide.

0, 0, represent rivets passing through the section F and held inposition by the washer plate P which rests on the top of the slide andallows it to slip freely. In order to guide the slide I insert a block 4in the slotm, removing the sides of the slot from contact with therivets 0, 0.

s representsa rivet with an enlarged head 8 riveted so as to engage overthe adjacent sides of slot n, thereby holding or looking the slide inthe forward position. r

o representsa knob. on slide K to allow it be readily moved back andforth, the friction of the engaging parts will hold it in position. Itis shown in the locked position in Figs. 5 and 6, in which position itbears firmly against the pivot ends of sectipns F and G, and holds thejoint locked. It can be readily slid back free of the section G and theparts will then fold into the position shown in Fig. 2.

I do not Wish to limit myself to any par= ticular form of lock jointexcept where the same is made a feature of the clauses of the claimsherein.

In order to allow the upper joint 6' to. pass outside of the top M, Iprefer to make the studs 1), d, which form the bearing of the jointslonger, and bend the section II out, as indicated by the shaded lines w.The upper joint 8 will then pass outside of the hood or carriage top M,thereby avoiding all danger of injury to the same when folded down.

Several advantages are obtained by the features of my invention; first,the top can be readily raised and lowered from the inside; second, itcan be locked firmly in the raised position; third, the top folds in abetter shape and is less liable to injury than by the usual form offolding carriage tops. The ordinary concealed prop joint between thebows D, E, is indicated by dotted lines R.

Having described my invention, what I claim is- 1. A prop-jointconsisting of the sections F G lying inside of the curtains andconnected by the hinged joint 0, the outwardly bent section H hinged tothe front valance bow and to the section G, and a locking device overthe joint 0 between the sections F and G, whereby the top may be raisedand lowered from the inside, substantially as described.

2. A prop-joint consisting of the section G swiveled to the central bowD, the upper ontwardly bent section II jointed at one end to the frontvalance bow and at its other end to the section G, the lower section Fhinged to the seat rail and jointed to the swivel section G inside thecurtains, and a device for locking the joint 0 of said sections F and G,substantially as described.

3. In combination with a central vertical ward to throw the upper jointe outside the top while the lower sections of the prop-joint are insideof the curtains and adapted to be operated from the inside of thecarriage, substantially as described.

4. In combination with the carriage top hows, the prop-joint consistingof the section G swiveled to the vertical bow D, the lower sectionFhinged to the seat rail and arranged inside the curtains, the joint 0between the sections F and G, a locking device adapted to be engagedwith the lower faces of sections F and G and to be disengaged from oneof said sections to enable the top to be folded, and the upper sectionII hinged at e to the swivel section G and connected at itsvother endwith the valance bow, the said section II being bent outward in suchmanner as to throw the upper joint 6 outside the top and avoid injury tothe top or its lining when the top is folded back, substantially asdescribed.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

LOUIS G. MAYER, Witnesses:

T. SIMMONS, WILL It. W001).

